Xn iHcmorinm. 
JOHN M. KEATING, M.D., LL.D. 
JUDSON DALAND, M.D. 
PHILADELPHIA. 
1894. 
[Reprinted from the International Clinics.] In iHrrno riant. 
JOHN M. KEATING, M.D., LL.D. 
By JUDSON DALAND, M.D. 
PHILADELPHIA. 
1894. 
[Reprinted from the International Clinics.] Jin JHemonam. 
JOHN M. KEATING, M.D., LL.D. 
The death of a man who was so eminent as a physician, whose 
fame as an author and teacher was truly international, and who pos- 
sessed such a host of warm personal friends, demands more than the 
brief, though eloquent, notices that have appeared in the medical and 
secular press. 
Dr. John M. Keating was born in Philadelphia in 1852. His 
father is Dr. William V. Keating, well known to the profession as one 
of the former professors of obstetrics at the Jefferson Medical College, 
as author and editor of a number of medical works, such as Rams- 
botham’s Obstetrics and Churchill on Diseases of Children, and, for 
many years, as director of the St. Agnes’ Hospital. His mother was 
the daughter of Dr. R6n6 La Roche, the author of one of the best and 
most exhaustive books on Yellow Fever, which is to-day considered 
one of the classics of medical literature. He married Edith, daughter 
of Mr. Peter McCall, and his widow, three girls, and a boy survive 
him. 
The Keating family is one of the oldest in the Quaker City. The 
deceased’s great-grandfather, Baron John Keating, was a trustee of the 
University of Pennsylvania, and died in the year 1856, one of the 
most distinguished men of his day. He reached the venerable age of 
ninety-six, aud retained to the last moment the full possession of his 
mental faculties. The baron’s grandfather was Sir Geoffrey Keating, 
who distinguished himself at the siege of Limerick, and was after- 
wards obliged to -withdraw with the army of James II. to France. 
Dr. Keating’s uncle, William H. Keating, was a professor in and 
his father and himself graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, 
thus making three generations of the family that have been officially 
connected with this institution. 
Dr. Jolm M. Keating received his early education at Seton Hall 
College, South Orange, New Jersey, and at the Philadelphia Poly- IN MEMORIAM, 
technic College, and then entered the Medical Department of the Uni- 
versity of Pennsylvania, from which he graduated in 1873. He served 
as interne in the Philadelphia Hospital, and soon afterwards became 
one of the visiting physicians to that large institution. For fourteen 
years he served this hospital as visiting obstetrician, during which time 
he delivered many important and valuable clinical lectures, more espe- 
cially upon diseases of children. He was Lecturer on Diseases of Chil- 
dren in the University of Pennsylvania; assistant physician to the 
Children’s Hospital; consulting physician for Diseases of Women to 
the St. Agnes’ Hospital; gynaecologist to the St. Joseph’s Hospital; 
physician in charge of the Children’s Department at Howard Hospital 
and St. Joseph’s Female Orphan Asylum. For fifteen years he was 
connected with the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company, during 
the latter ten of these as its medical director. 
He was an officer or member of many of the leading medical 
societies of the country, at one time president of the Association of 
Life Insurance Medical Directors, and president of the American 
Pediatric Society. Even so recently as during the past summer he 
was an active and a prominent member of the Pan-American Medical 
Congress, which was held at Washington in September, 1893, serving 
as executive president of the Section on Diseases of Children. He 
was also a Fellow of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, of the 
American Gynaecological Society, and of the British Gynaecological 
Society; and the degree of LL.D. was conferred upon him at Seton 
Hall College in 1891. 
In 1879 he was one of General Grant’s party that visited India, 
Burmah, the Malay Peninsula, Siam, and China, and on his return 
home published an interesting record of the journey, under the title 
of “With General Grant in the East.” The brother of the King of 
Siam, Prime Minister and real ruler of that country, was his warm 
personal friend. The souvenirs that he then collected are most valu- 
able and interesting. 
Dr. John M. Keating was the author or compiler of a large num- 
ber of medical books and treatises, some of which were written in 
collaboration with other physicians. Among others may be mentioned 
“The Mother’s Guide to the Management and Feeding of Infants;” 
“Diseases of the Heart and Circulation in Children;” “Maternity 
—Infancy—Childhood ;” “ How to Examine for Life Insurance;” 
“A New Pronouncing Dictionary of Medicine;” and “Mother and 
Child.” For twenty years he contributed articles of more than ordi- 
nary value to the various medical journals in this and other cities, and JOHN M. KEATING, M.D., LL.D. 
to him all honor is due in founding the International Clinics, of which 
he was one of the editors from April, 1891, until his death. He was 
also editor of the Archives of Pediatrics, founder of The Climatologist, 
and contributed articles to Pepper’s System of Medicine, Buck’s Refer- 
ence Hand-Book, Sajous’s Annual, etc. 
The work, however, by which he was particularly known to the 
medical profession on both sides of the Atlantic is the “ Cyclopaedia 
of the Diseases of Children,” which met with universal approbation 
because of the excellence of the various articles, written by leading 
specialists in this country, Canada, and England. Its sale was 
enormous, and it is to-day the most advanced and complete work 
upon this subject in the English language, and is destined for years 
to come to represent pediatrics as it existed in this decade. 
In 1890, while suffering from overwork, he developed pulmonary 
consumption, necessitating his removal to Colorado. The invigorating 
climate of his new home soon produced a most happy effect, and in 
about a year he was again able to assume the duties of his chosen and 
beloved profession. His qualities of heart as well as mind endeared 
him to his newly-formed colleagues, and he gave every promise of re- 
lating in the West his great achievements in the East. His strong 
personality and influence over men showed itself as of old, and the 
medical society of the city of his adoption, which had been allowed to 
languish, took on new life; a better esprit de corps showed itself. That 
lie was loved by all was evidenced not only from the fact that three 
doctors remained with him the entire night while life was slowly ebb- 
ing away, even though no medical assistance was necessary, but from 
the personal testimony of his colleagues. While in Colorado he 
showed his usual broad-mindedness and great interest in his fellow- 
men by his many valuable suggestions looking to the improvement of 
the sanitary condition of the city, the hygiene of the people, and the 
spread of true knowledge among physicians as to the effect of the 
climate of this portion of the United States upon diseases, especially 
upon pulmonary consumption. 
From time to time he would make the hearts of his friends glad 
by a brief visit to his native city, but, though we all rejoiced in his 
improvement, none of us could close our eyes to the truth that he was 
waging a terrible battle for life with all the cool bravery of a true 
soldier, despite terrible odds. This thought always produced an 
unspeakable sadness, for it was manifest that there could be but one 
result, and that death must conquer. However, as months passed 
hopes ‘returned, and during his hist visit in September we all felt jus- XIV 
IN MEMOBIAM 
tified in believing that he would be with us for some years. Soon 
after his return to Colorado Springs he received a severe mental shock 
upon hearing of the sudden death of his intimate friend and kinsman 
W. J. Wilcox, and had several hemorrhages, followed by pneumonia, 
and in a few days the long struggle was over. No words of mine can 
so well describe the closing hours as those of one who knew him from 
childhood and who was with him to the end. “ His death was touching 
to a degree; lie met it with a calmness and peacefulness that could not be 
called bravery, for there was nothing to indicate the thought of danger; 
nobody was forgotten; everything was attended to, but religion was 
paramount, as it always was during life. He has left a memory and 
an example that will ever abide with those who knew and loved him, 
and which affords to them proof of the higher capabilities of this life 
and of the certain existence of that which constitutes its highest aspi- 
rations.” 
Thus passed away our friend, exemplifying in death those noble 
qualities so characteristic in life, a sincere Christian and a firm adhe- 
rent to the Roman Catholic faith, ever thoughtful of those about him, 
and with all that simple gentleness that bound his friends to him with 
bands of steel. As has been so well said by one of his friends,1 “ Dr. 
Keating belonged to the princely type of men. He had enjoyed all that 
comes from gentle birth, the refinements of society, and lofty associa- 
tions. He inherited a deep-seated faith and piety, which formed the 
groundwork of his character and inspired all his actions. Genial and 
pleasant to all, a man ever ready to see life’s humorous side, yet there 
could be found none who was more serious as an adviser or more 
steadfast as a friend.” His strong personality, combined with an 
extraordinary gentleness of manner and charming courtesy, was a 
delight to all his friends, and though more than a decade has passed 
since the writer, while yet a student of medicine, met him for the first 
time, and then as a friend and an associate in literary work, this re- 
markable charm of manner was as strongly marked at the last as at 
the first meeting. The same charm was doubtless felt by many, if 
not all, of his colleagues, and even in his letters this happy influ- 
ence showed itself. As a further illustration of this delightful trait 
of character may be cited the remark of one2 who has published most 
of Dr. Keating’s books, to the effect that, despite his large and varied 
experience, he knew of no one who could gather together so many 
authors of various tastes—authors, too, who, by reason of professional 
1J. Russell Young. 
* Craige Lippincott. JOHN M. KEATING, M.D., LL.D. 
XV 
engagements, would rarely undertake literary work—and induce them 
to co-operate with him, as was so brilliantly shown in the “ Cyclo- 
paedia of the Diseases of Children.” All seemed glad to assist him, 
and all felt the spell of his companionship. His conversation was 
bright, sparkling, and attractive, and was conjoined with a marked 
gentleness of manner and courtesy that never forsook him. 
To attempt to describe in words these qualities is as impossible as 
to convey to a blind man in the same manner the wonderful beauties 
visible in nature. In part this attractiveness was undoubtedly due 
to his varied tastes, for, while passionately fond of his profession, his 
leisure hours were devoted to other pursuits, in which he displayed 
new talents. 
From childhood he manifested a pronounced taste for art, and at one 
time, so strong was his leaning in that direction, it was thought that he 
would adopt it as a profession. He could sketch beautifully, and this 
talent assisted him in illustrating his writings. He took up etching 
as a diversion, and produced some creditable plates. He was devoted 
to photography, and his home abounds with many examples of his skill 
in this direction. He was always at work, and no sooner was one 
task completed than another was begun. His great nervous energy 
and mental capacity far exceeded his physical powers; and when one 
remembers how large was his practice and how numerous were his 
hospital and public appointments, and then recalls the number and 
variety of contributions to medicine by a man who had battled with 
physical infirmities for years, and whose life terminated at so early an 
age, one cannot help wondering what this great intellect might have 
accomplished had it been implanted in a strong and sturdy frame and 
allotted the usual threescore years and ten. 
His was a nature most affectionate and genial, never more happy 
than when surrounded by his family, relations, and friends, always 
endeavoring to make every one a sharer of his happiness. 
In closing this tribute to one who has been a friend for so many 
years, the writer must say that the real man has been but faintly 
described, as those who have had the pleasure of his friendship will 
fully appreciate. 
Judson Daland, M.D. 
Philadelphia.